Edward A. Halbach

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Edward A. Halbach"

Transcription

1 Edward A. Halbach By Gerry Samolyk On March 20, our longest-term member passed away just short of his 102nd birthday. Ed Halbach is the most significant member in the history of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society. In fact, Ed was one of the most significant amateur astronomers of the twentieth century. When Ed Halbach graduated from college and began his engineering carrier, he looked for an activity to occupy his free time. He felt that most hobbies were way too passive. However in 1932, Ed saw an advertisement in the Milwaukee Journal announcing the formation of an astronomical society. Here Ed found an activity where could channel his energy. Ed started observing variable using the old blueprint charts (see photo) and a 13 reflector located in the backyard of MAS founder Luverne Armfield. Ed would continue to observe variables for the next 70 years, making about 100,000 visual observations. The society was also active in observations of meteors during that time. In 1936, construction of the MAS observatory began in New Berlin. Ed would play a key role in this project. At the height of the depression there was little money available, so the members passed a hat and managed to collect $100 that was used to purchase some used lumber. One of Ed s many talents was the ability to obtain donated material for observatory construction projects (as he used to say you need to know how to scrounge ). Concrete for the pier and steel for the dome were obtained.

2 In 1942, Ed took on the job of Observatory Director, a position he would hold for the next 35 years. During the Second World War, Ed ran an optics shop in the monastery building to produce prisms for bombsights. This qualified MAS members for extra gas-ration coupons for observatory access. However, observatory use was down significantly during the war. In 1947, Ed was involved in the formation of the Astronomical League and served as the first president of that organization. Ed married Jane Roth in They enjoyed 65 years together before Jane passed away in Despite all of Ed s astronomical activities, he always found time for his family. He designed and built a camping trailer so he could take Jane and their six children on cross country trips. During the 1940 s, amateurs became involved in studying the relationship between solar events, aurora, and the magnetic field of the Earth. By comparing observations of solar flares, aurora, and ground currents, Ed was able to predict interruptions in power and communications caused by solar events. This work enabled power companies to prevent interruptions of this type. The MAS was part of a network of astronomers coordinating observations of these phenomena. Cornelius Prinslow, Bill Albrecht, and Ed Halbach, of the MAS were featured in a 1949 issue of National Geographic article on the subject. In the late 1940 s and 50 s, Ed became involved in an Air Force project using solar eclipse timings to link the North American datum with the coordinate grids of other continents. This work took him on eclipse expeditions all over the world. The result of much of this work has remained classified to this day.

3 With the dawn of the space age, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory recruited amateur astronomers to help with tracking satellites in a project called Moonwatch. Ed got the MAS involved and modified the monastery building at the MAS observatory with a pier and slide off roof to house three satellite tracking scopes. (The building then became known as the satellite shed). As a result of this work, the MAS predicted and observed the reentry of Sputnik IV in Observations of lunar occultations had been going on for a decades, but it wasn t until the mid 1960 s that computers became fast enough to accurately predict lunar grazing occultations. Ed got involved with this program at the start. In the process he designed and oversaw the construction of a two mile cable and chart recorder system to facilitate easy recording of these observations. In the early 1970 s he led a project to design the 10 portascopes. This allowed us to bring larger aperture scopes to these events. These scopes were also heavily used in the observation of eclipsing binary and RR Lyr stars from the 1970 s thru the 2000 s. Ed received the Astronomical League Peltier award for his work in lunar occultations. In 1977, Ed and Jane decided to retire and move to Estes Park CO. The house that Ed had designed included a rooftop observatory with a 16 cassegrain scope on a modified Springfield mount. He would spend much of his retirement working on this project (Ed always needed to have a project to tinker with). While working on this scope, Ed used a portable 10 scope in his backyard to continue his occultation and variable star observing. In addition to Ed s observing, Ed and Jane enjoyed extensive world travel during their retirement. Ed also did volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity. He continued this work until he was well into his 90 s.

4 There are many facets to Ed s legacy. His engineering talent and creativity was at the genius level. He could find an economical solution to almost any problem. His innovations kept the MAS observatory thriving thru the depression and a world war. He designed and crafted the drives and setting circles on both A and B scopes that are still in use today. Those domes continue to function after decades of use. Ed always looked for opportunities for amateurs to contribute to the science of astronomy and related fields. His energy and enthusiasm was contagious. In 1988, Ed had also received the AAVSO merit award for his long service to that organization. A significant part of Ed Halbach s legacy was his role as a mentor to other observers. In 1933, Ed met a high school student named Bill Albrecht. Ed took Bill under his wing and it was the start of a close friendship that has lasted for over ¾ century. Over the decades that followed, several generations of observers as well as a few professional astronomers were mentored by Ed. At the 2003 spring meeting of the AAVSO, Ed received the William Tyler Olcott award in acknowledgment of this effort. At the same meeting, Jane was credited for putting up with Ed during more than 60 years of marriage. I was in high school student when I first met Ed Halbach. As a young member of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society, I quickly got involved in observatory construction projects. One of the first observing projects Ed got me involved in was grazing Lunar occultations, chasing moon shadows all over Wisconsin and northern Illinois. One night Ed gave me my first experience with variable stars. As he was showing how to observe long period stars, I asked him how many he observed per hour. He told me that he normally observed about 15 stars per hour

5 but when he had help from people like me he got about four. He was always interested in getting new observes started. Finally in 1974 came a night that impacted my life. Ed came out to the MAS observatory with a copy of the AAVSO Circular. He said, There s an article in here about something call, eclipsing binary stars. Let s see what we can do with them. I have been observing EB stars ever since. In 1980 I took over Ed s old position as observatory director for the MAS. Throughout Ed s retirement we maintained a close friendship and continued to swap information about observing projects. The MAS site always was a special place for both of us; in 2003 Ed made his last visit. I gave him a tour of the new observatories that had been built. He was impressed with the designs of the new sheds and the CCD equipment. It showed how much observing has changed in a single human lifetime.

MAS Member Guide. Preface. Last Updated: 03/20/2018

MAS Member Guide. Preface. Last Updated: 03/20/2018 MAS Member Guide Preface This guide is for the members of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society (MAS) and especially the newer members. Here we will provide information about the club: the Focal Point newsletter,

More information

PROPOSED ASTRONOMICAL

PROPOSED ASTRONOMICAL .,, A :' PROPOSED ASTRONOMICAL FOREWORD The Milwaukee Astronomical Society was incorporated in I 933 and has grown to a group of 200. The Society regularly supplies important astronomical data to the worldwide

More information

MAS Observatory Manual

MAS Observatory Manual MAS Observatory Manual General Information Preface This manual is intended especially for the members of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society (MAS) Observatory at 18850 W Observatory Rd in New Berlin. It

More information

Volume 38 Issue 5. May Final. Page 1

Volume 38 Issue 5. May Final. Page 1 Celestial Volume 38 Issue 5 Observerr May 2018 M81 Image by CCAS Member Robin White. Exposures: 9 x 8 minutes, ISO 1600 Telescope: Meade Lx200 10" F6.3 Camera: Canon EOS T3i Processed: Darks combined in

More information

Astronomy at Eastern University

Astronomy at Eastern University Astronomy at Eastern University DIGITAL UNIVERSE The Julia Fowler Planetarium offers an invaluable experience for Eastern University students and visitors alike. We host thousands of guests each year and

More information

W riters always like to ask,

W riters always like to ask, Moving to Galaxy Country article and photos by Tom Clark W riters always like to ask, "So, what would you change if you had to do it all over again?" whenever we have the chance to visit someone's homemade

More information

The ALPO s Legacy. Preserving Our Astronomical Heritage

The ALPO s Legacy. Preserving Our Astronomical Heritage The ALPO s Legacy Preserving Our Astronomical Heritage This is the ALPO The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) is an astronomical organization dedicated to the scientific study of Solar

More information

Lived Alfred Wegener was born on November 1, 1880, in Germany s capital city, Berlin.

Lived Alfred Wegener was born on November 1, 1880, in Germany s capital city, Berlin. Alfred Wegener Lived 1880 1930. Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift the idea that Earth s continents move. Despite publishing a large body of compelling fossil and rock evidence for

More information

ASTRONOMY Merit Badge Requirements

ASTRONOMY Merit Badge Requirements ASTRONOMY Merit Badge Requirements 1) Do the following: A) Sketch the face of the moon, indicating on it the locations of at least five seas and five craters. B) Within a single week, sketch the position

More information

Part 2: The 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse The Great American Eclipse

Part 2: The 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse The Great American Eclipse Feature Story: ALPO Eclipse Section Part 2: The 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse The Great American Eclipse By Michael D. Reynolds, Coordinator, ALPO Eclipse Section Executive Director, the ALPO m.d.reynolds@fscj.edu

More information

Marsh W. White Award Proposal

Marsh W. White Award Proposal Marsh W. White Award Proposal Project Proposal Title Name of School Scoping Out Astronomy! United States Air Force Academy SPS Chapter Number 7502 Total Amount Requested $300.00 Abstract USAFA cadets and

More information

SONOMA COUNTY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

SONOMA COUNTY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY SONOMA COUNTY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 2019 STRIKING SPARKS TELESCOPE AWARDS PROGRAM Previous Striking Sparks telescope winners, sponsors, mentors and teachers. Photo by Len Nelson. This will be the 34 nd

More information

A History of Astronomical Spectroscopy

A History of Astronomical Spectroscopy CHAPTER TWO A History of Astronomical Spectroscopy The publication of Kirchhoff s and Bunsen s work brought the awareness of the spectroscope, and what it could reveal, to a wider audience, including astronomers.

More information

Eulogy for Father Victor L. Badillo by the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) by Jose A. Aguilar, M.D. Vice-President, ALP

Eulogy for Father Victor L. Badillo by the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) by Jose A. Aguilar, M.D. Vice-President, ALP Eulogy for Father Victor L. Badillo by the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) by Jose A. Aguilar, M.D. Vice-President, ALP Good evening. I am Dr. Jett Aguilar, a medical doctor and an amateur

More information

» The observatory will be located uphill and north of the Reuter Center at the end of UNC Asheville s road-to-nowhere (Nut Hill Road).

» The observatory will be located uphill and north of the Reuter Center at the end of UNC Asheville s road-to-nowhere (Nut Hill Road). » The observatory will be located uphill and north of the Reuter Center at the end of UNC Asheville s road-to-nowhere (Nut Hill Road). UNC-Asheville Campus » With some tree removal, this location is a

More information

A Life in Balance: A Tribute to Bill McLellan by Dan McKenna

A Life in Balance: A Tribute to Bill McLellan by Dan McKenna A Life in Balance: A Tribute to Bill McLellan by Dan McKenna If I could turn back time, I wish that all of you would have had the opportunity to meet Bill McLellan, who recently passed on. I suspect that

More information

Living on the Moon. Polar Plus. By Lisa M. Guidone. NASA shoots for the moon, then Mars.

Living on the Moon. Polar Plus. By Lisa M. Guidone. NASA shoots for the moon, then Mars. Name: Date: Living on the Moon By Lisa M. Guidone NASA shoots for the moon, then Mars. Only 12 people have set foot on the moon so far [2007]. The last time was in late 1972, when two astronauts walked

More information

What If We Had No Moon?

What If We Had No Moon? What If We Had No Moon? By Bob Gard Hollister Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.org Notes For Sermon, What If We Had No Moon? Slide 1 What are we talking about?... Slide 2 Moons! Let

More information

Dream Jobs: Solar system ambassador

Dream Jobs: Solar system ambassador Dream Jobs: Solar system ambassador By NASA.gov, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.29.16 Word Count 869 Astronomer Derrick Pitts examines a telescope owned by Galileo Galilei that was on display at his museum,

More information

Quiz name: Chapter 12 Classwork Assignment Famous Scientist Edwin Hubble

Quiz name: Chapter 12 Classwork Assignment Famous Scientist Edwin Hubble Name: Quiz name: Chapter 12 Classwork Assignment Famous Scientist Edwin Hubble Date: 1. was born on November 20, 1889. 2. He graduated from the University of Chicago and served in WWI before settling down

More information

Featured Alumna Sarah Caudill ( 06)

Featured Alumna Sarah Caudill ( 06) Featured Alumna Sarah Caudill ( 06) As a high school student applying to colleges, I had a choice between Stetson and the University of Florida. I reasoned that I would receive a more personalized education

More information

How to buy a telescope for your institution

How to buy a telescope for your institution How to buy a telescope for your institution by Dr. Frank Melsheimer DFM Engineering, Inc. 1035 Delaware Avenue, Unit D Longmont, Colorado 80501 phone 303-678-8143 fax 303-772-9411 www.dfmengineering.com

More information

Edwin Hubble Changed Our Ideas About the Universe

Edwin Hubble Changed Our Ideas About the Universe Edwin Hubble Changed Our Ideas About the Universe Astronomers continue to use the Hubble Space Telescope named after him. Transcript of radio broadcast: 28 April 2009 ANNOUNCER: EXPLORATIONS -- a program

More information

RESTORING A LARGE ANTIQUE REFRACTOR by Claire M. Stencel

RESTORING A LARGE ANTIQUE REFRACTOR by Claire M. Stencel DRAFT, 07/02/11 RESTORING A LARGE ANTIQUE REFRACTOR by Claire M. Stencel Nineteenth century observatories and their telescopes are fading away, but some thrive. In the middle of Observatory Park in south

More information

-SQA-SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY NATIONAL CERTIFICATE MODULE: UNIT SPECIFICATION GENERAL INFORMATION. -Module Number Session

-SQA-SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY NATIONAL CERTIFICATE MODULE: UNIT SPECIFICATION GENERAL INFORMATION. -Module Number Session -SQA-SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY NATIONAL CERTIFICATE MODULE: UNIT SPECIFICATION GENERAL INFORMATION -Module Number- 3160067 -Session-1997-98 -Superclass- -Title- RE INTRODUCTION TO OBSERVING -----------------------------------------

More information

Starmaster s new go-anywhere scope is a quick-change artist with two. Two scopes in one

Starmaster s new go-anywhere scope is a quick-change artist with two. Two scopes in one equipment review Starmaster s new go-anywhere scope is a quick-change artist with two mounting options. BY VIC WINTER Two scopes in one A new line of Newtonian reflectors from Starmaster Portable Telescopes

More information

View Through a Telescope Classroom Activity

View Through a Telescope Classroom Activity View Through a Telescope Classroom Activity The Classroom Activity introduces students to the context of a performance task, so they are not disadvantaged in demonstrating the skills the task intends to

More information

Amateur Astronomer Participation in the TESS Exoplanet Mission

Amateur Astronomer Participation in the TESS Exoplanet Mission Amateur Astronomer Participation in the TESS Exoplanet Mission Dennis M. Conti Chair, AAVSO Exoplanet Section Member, TESS Follow-up Observing Program Copyright Dennis M. Conti 2018 1 The Big Picture Is

More information

Picturing the Universe. How Photography Revolutionized Astronomy

Picturing the Universe. How Photography Revolutionized Astronomy a c t i v i t y Picturing the Universe 15 How Photography Revolutionized Astronomy The invention of practical photography by Louis Daguerre was announced in Paris in 1839. News of the daguerreotype process

More information

From Cleveland to the Virgo Cluster: our Burrell Schmidt telescope

From Cleveland to the Virgo Cluster: our Burrell Schmidt telescope From Cleveland to the Virgo Cluster: our Burrell Schmidt telescope Worcester Warner (1846-1929) Ambrose Swasey (1846-1937) Warner & Swasey Company Established a very successful machine tool business in

More information

Vera Rubin, who paved the way for women astronomers, dies at 88

Vera Rubin, who paved the way for women astronomers, dies at 88 Vera Rubin, who paved the way for women astronomers, dies at 88 By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.04.17 Word Count 927 Vera Rubin uses a measuring engine in this photo taken in the 1970s

More information

The Newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society July-August 2003

The Newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society July-August 2003 The Newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society July-August 2003 AAVSO Meeting in Tucson Arizona By Rudy Poklar On the last night, the highlight of the banquet came when Ed Halbach received the William

More information

4 billion light years in the making: one UW-River Falls professor s journey to a scientific breakthrough Kelsea Wissing/UWRF Communications

4 billion light years in the making: one UW-River Falls professor s journey to a scientific breakthrough Kelsea Wissing/UWRF Communications University Communications 120 North Hall 410 S. 3rd St., River Falls, WI 54022 715-425-3771 4 billion light years in the making: one UW-River Falls professor s journey to a scientific breakthrough Kelsea

More information

71 Sunlight and Shadows

71 Sunlight and Shadows 71 Sunlight and Shadows TA L K I N G I T O V E RAn important part of scientists work is discussing and presenting their results and ideas to other scientists. It begins with informal discussions and eventually

More information

SOURCES AND RESOURCES:

SOURCES AND RESOURCES: A Galactic Zoo Lesson plan for grades K-2 Length of lesson: 1 Class Period (60 minutes) Adapted by: Jesús Aguilar-Landaverde, Environmental Science Institute, February 24, 2012 SOURCES AND RESOURCES: An

More information

ADVANCED CCD PHOTOMETRY AND EXOPLANET TRANSIT PHOTOMETRY. By : Kenny A. Diaz Eguigure

ADVANCED CCD PHOTOMETRY AND EXOPLANET TRANSIT PHOTOMETRY. By : Kenny A. Diaz Eguigure ADVANCED CCD PHOTOMETRY AND EXOPLANET TRANSIT PHOTOMETRY By : Kenny A. Diaz Eguigure KELT: THE KILODEGREE EXTREMELY LITTLE TELESCOPE Robotic Survey for Transiting Exoplanets KELT-North Deployed 2005 to

More information

The Newsletter of the Kern Astronomical Society No. 496 March April March 12 and 16. Saturday March 19

The Newsletter of the Kern Astronomical Society No. 496 March April March 12 and 16. Saturday March 19 The Newsletter of the Kern Astronomical Society No. 496 March April 2016 March 4, 2016 First Friday of Every Month March 4, 2016 @ Round Table Pizza, 4200 Gosford Road, Suite 101, Bakersfield, CA Dinner

More information

It s Very Popular Education Program at Science Museums in Japan Make Your Own Telescope to Explore the Universe

It s Very Popular Education Program at Science Museums in Japan Make Your Own Telescope to Explore the Universe Proc. of the International Symposium on the NAOJ Museum September 2015 in Tokyo, Japan 175 It s Very Popular Education Program at Science Museums in Japan Make Your Own Telescope to Explore the Universe

More information

Modeling the Universe: Create Your Own Cosmos

Modeling the Universe: Create Your Own Cosmos Modeling the Universe: Create Your Own Cosmos Goals: To have fun! To represent earth's physical place in the solar system and universe To understand astronomical size and scale To understand strengths

More information

Detecting Other Worlds with a Backyard Telescope! Dennis M. Conti Chair, AAVSO Exoplanet Section

Detecting Other Worlds with a Backyard Telescope! Dennis M. Conti Chair, AAVSO Exoplanet Section Detecting Other Worlds with a Backyard Telescope! Dennis M. Conti Chair, AAVSO Exoplanet Section www.astrodennis.com The Night Sky Q: Which stars have one or more planets (exoplanets) around them? A: Most

More information

Hanwell Observatory Inc.

Hanwell Observatory Inc. Hanwell Observatory Inc. 22 Falcon Lane Hanwell, NB E3E 2K8 Proposal for funding under Hanwell s Recreation and Leisure Services for the rural community October 2017 Submitted by Detlef Rudolph, President

More information

Earth in Space. Guide for Reading How does Earth move in space? What causes the cycle of seasons on Earth?

Earth in Space. Guide for Reading How does Earth move in space? What causes the cycle of seasons on Earth? Earth in Space How does Earth move in space? What causes the cycle of seasons on Earth? The study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space is called astronomy. Ancient astronomers studied the movements

More information

Hunting Outbursting Young Stars. Centre of Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences (HOYS-CAPS) University of Kent

Hunting Outbursting Young Stars. Centre of Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences (HOYS-CAPS) University of Kent Who am I? Hunting Outbursting Young Stars Director of the Variable Star Section with the Centre of Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences (HOYS-CAPS) at the University of Kent 1 How did this HOYS-CAPS Programme

More information

Living on the Moon. Polar Plus. By Lisa M. Guidone. NASA shoots for the moon, then Mars.

Living on the Moon. Polar Plus. By Lisa M. Guidone. NASA shoots for the moon, then Mars. Living on the Moon By Lisa M. Guidone NASA shoots for the moon, then Mars. Only 12 people have set foot on the moon so far. The last time was in late 1972, when two astronauts walked on its surface. Their

More information

It will cover material up to, but not including, Will consist of a few short-answers, 1-2 short essay, and a few problems + extra credit.

It will cover material up to, but not including, Will consist of a few short-answers, 1-2 short essay, and a few problems + extra credit. Astronomy 210 Section 1 MWF 1500-1550 134 Astronomy Building This Class (Lecture 13): Thermal Radiation Next Class: Exam #1 on Friday! Thursday Review Session Hour Exam #1 Music: The Space Race is Over

More information

A Ramble Through the Night Sky

A Ramble Through the Night Sky 1 2 Contents of Talk What is up there? Moon, stars, planets, comets, aurora, nebulae, galaxies How can I find my way around? Magazines, books, planisphere, software What if I want to see more? Binoculars,

More information

Astronomy Review. Use the following four pictures to answer questions 1-4.

Astronomy Review. Use the following four pictures to answer questions 1-4. Astronomy Review Use the following four pictures to answer questions 1-4. 1. Put an X through the pictures that are NOT possible. 2. Circle the picture that could be a lunar eclipse. 3. Triangle the picture

More information

Name: Date: Period: #: Chapter 1: Outline Notes What Does a Historian Do?

Name: Date: Period: #: Chapter 1: Outline Notes What Does a Historian Do? Name: Date: Period: #: Chapter 1: Outline Notes What Does a Historian Do? Lesson 1.1 What is History? I. Why Study History? A. History is the study of the of the past. History considers both the way things

More information

1966 John Deere 60 Lawn Tractor

1966 John Deere 60 Lawn Tractor 1966 John Deere 60 Lawn Tractor By Jason Muller Formatted: Centered Our John Deere Model 60 garden tractor was originally bought new from the Greenway Implement, John Deere dealership in Paullina, Iowa

More information

Award Winning Photographer Ted Dobosz

Award Winning Photographer Ted Dobosz Award Winning Photographer Ted Dobosz The Astronomy Photographer of the Year is an annual event run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich. The competition is open to anyone around the globe. The three main

More information

Show Me the Money. >> By Robert L. Young, LS

Show Me the Money. >> By Robert L. Young, LS Show Me the Money here is a lot of talk about the role that GIS plays in business, and in society at large. I d like to talk about what GIS means to surveyors, at least to this surveyor: my experience

More information

BRIEF DEATH ANALYSIS THRU THE CHART OF RICK HOUCK

BRIEF DEATH ANALYSIS THRU THE CHART OF RICK HOUCK 1 BRIEF DEATH ANALYSIS THRU THE CHART OF RICK HOUCK Born April 13, 1947 Died April 1, 2001 In the following discussion which took place back in June of 2002, Krushna talks about finding the different karakas

More information

2010 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.

2010 Teacher Created Resources, Inc. Editor Erica N. Russikoff, M.A. Illustrator Clint McKnight Cover Artist Brenda DiAntonis Editor in Chief Ina Massler Levin, M.A. Creative Director Karen J. Goldfluss, M.S. Ed. Art Coordinator Renée Christine

More information

1( ) 8

1( ) 8 Beyond the Sky Human beings have gazed upon the sky for thousands of years. Ancient astronomers observed small lights in the night sky that moved among the stars, and called them planets, meaning wanderers..,.

More information

MONTHLY OBSERVER S CHALLENGE

MONTHLY OBSERVER S CHALLENGE Introduction MONTHLY OBSERVER S CHALLENGE Compiled by: Roger Ivester, Boiling Springs, North Carolina & Fred Rayworth, Las Vegas, Nevada April 2009 The Virgo Cluster (Markharian s Chain) The purpose of

More information

A GEOCENTRIC ORRERY. What is an orrery?

A GEOCENTRIC ORRERY. What is an orrery? Biblical Astronomer, number 94 5 A GEOCENTRIC ORRERY Last spring, a gentle lady wrote asking about the possibility that the shadow of the moon during a solar eclipse could prove geocentricity. Part of

More information

Touching Space Accessible Astronomy

Touching Space Accessible Astronomy University of Central Lancashire with the International Astronomical Union OAD Touching Space Accessible Astronomy Project Report 2017 Introduction The Touching Space project was awarded funding by the

More information

Waterloo Collegiate Astronomy Assignment SES4UI. Size of the Earth and the Distances to the Moon and Sun

Waterloo Collegiate Astronomy Assignment SES4UI. Size of the Earth and the Distances to the Moon and Sun Waterloo Collegiate Astronomy Assignment SES4UI Size of the Earth and the Distances to the Moon and Sun Objectives Using observations of the Earth-Sun-Moon system and elementary geometry and trigonometry,

More information

The Ever-Changing Sky

The Ever-Changing Sky The Ever Changing Sky The Ever-Changing Sky By Megan McGibney Look up at the sky. You will see the sun. It is bright and shiny, warming everything in the world. Look up at the sky again at night. You may

More information

Earth & Beyond Teacher Newsletter

Earth & Beyond Teacher Newsletter Paul Floyd s Astronomy & Space Website Earth & Beyond Teacher Newsletter www.nightskyonline.info Earth & Beyond Teaching opportunities for 2012 This special edition has been prepared to assist you with

More information

History of Astronomy. Historical People and Theories

History of Astronomy. Historical People and Theories History of Astronomy Historical People and Theories Plato Believed he could solve everything through reasoning. Circles and Spheres are good because they are perfect (never ending) and pleasing to the

More information

Directions: Read each slide

Directions: Read each slide Directions: Read each slide and decide what information is needed. Some slides may have red or yellow or orange underlined. This information is a clue for you to read more carefully or copy the information

More information

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Splendors of the Universe on YOUR Night! Many pictures are links to larger versions. Click here for the Best images of the OTOP Gallery and more information. Clouds

More information

Telescopes and Observatories. Parent Guide, page 1 of 2. OurStory: Exploring the Sky. Read the Directions sheets for step-by-step instructions.

Telescopes and Observatories. Parent Guide, page 1 of 2. OurStory: Exploring the Sky. Read the Directions sheets for step-by-step instructions. Parent Guide, page 1 of 2 Read the Directions sheets for step-by-step instructions. SUMMARY In this activity, children and adults will watch and discuss a short video about how people use telescopes. WHY

More information

June 2016 E-Newsletter of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society

June 2016 E-Newsletter of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society June 2016 E-Newsletter of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society 501(c)(3) Scientific and Charitable Organization Established in 1974 Hello members and friends, Thanks to all who attended my presentation

More information

Astronomical League Sales Order Form

Astronomical League Sales Order Form Astronomical League Sales Order Form Astronomical League Sales items may be purchased by Credit Card. You may order either through our secure on-line ordering system www.astronomicalleague.com. Or via

More information

A TECHNICAL DISCUSSION OF EXACTLY WHAT VESTO SLIPHER DID TO MAKE HIS REVOLUTIONARY OBSERVATIONS Highlights of early spectroscopy (including those of E

A TECHNICAL DISCUSSION OF EXACTLY WHAT VESTO SLIPHER DID TO MAKE HIS REVOLUTIONARY OBSERVATIONS Highlights of early spectroscopy (including those of E Vesto Slipher and the Development of Nebular Spectrographs Laird A. Thompson Astronomy Department University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign A TECHNICAL DISCUSSION OF EXACTLY WHAT VESTO SLIPHER DID TO MAKE

More information

The Newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society November 1988

The Newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society November 1988 1 The Newsletter of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society November 1988 In Memory - Jim Toeller It is my sad duty to report that Jim Toeller, a long time member, passed away last month. Whatever the activity,

More information

Facts Underlying the High Performance of the 188-cm Reflector Telescope

Facts Underlying the High Performance of the 188-cm Reflector Telescope Facts Underlying the High Performance of the 188-cm Reflector Telescope Okayama Astrophysical Observatory s 188-cm Reflector Telescope is the largest optical-infrared telescope in Japan. When introduced

More information

Surveying Prof. Bharat Lohani Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Module - 3 Lecture - 4 Linear Measurements

Surveying Prof. Bharat Lohani Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Module - 3 Lecture - 4 Linear Measurements Surveying Prof. Bharat Lohani Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Module - 3 Lecture - 4 Linear Measurements Welcome again to this another video lecture on basic surveying.

More information

Tools of Astronomy Tools of Astronomy

Tools of Astronomy Tools of Astronomy Tools of Astronomy Tools of Astronomy The light that comes to Earth from distant objects is the best tool that astronomers can use to learn about the universe. In most cases, there is no other way to study

More information

Missions mars. Beyond the Book. FOCUS Book

Missions mars. Beyond the Book. FOCUS Book Imagine that you are part of a team designing a new Mars rover. An area of the planet has been found that has ice and possibly liquid water. It seems like a great spot to locate life on Mars! Your job

More information

NISE Net Online Workshop Working with the Solar System Ambassadors and Night Sky Network Tuesday, January 23, 2018

NISE Net Online Workshop Working with the Solar System Ambassadors and Night Sky Network Tuesday, January 23, 2018 NISE Net Online Workshop Working with the Solar System Ambassadors and Night Sky Network Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Questions? Feel free to type your questions into the Chat Box at any time throughout the

More information

George Muller: Chapter 1 Questions

George Muller: Chapter 1 Questions George Muller: Chapter 1 Questions 1) What does gullible mean? Use the word in a sentence. 2) What promise did George make to himself after his father caught him stealing? 3) Why did the policeman laugh

More information

Contents: -Information/Research Packet. - Jumbled Image packet. - Comic book cover page. -Comic book pages. -Example finished comic

Contents: -Information/Research Packet. - Jumbled Image packet. - Comic book cover page. -Comic book pages. -Example finished comic Contents: -Information/Research Packet - Jumbled Image packet - Comic book cover page -Comic book pages -Example finished comic Nicolaus Copernicus Nicholas Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who lived

More information

Night Comes to the Cumberlands and It s Awesome: Promoting Night Sky Conservation and Development in the Upper Cumberland

Night Comes to the Cumberlands and It s Awesome: Promoting Night Sky Conservation and Development in the Upper Cumberland Night Comes to the Cumberlands and It s Awesome: Promoting Night Sky Conservation and Development in the Upper Cumberland Jean Mercer Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Office of Sponsored Programs

More information

Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club

Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club www.charlotteastromers.org Next Meeting: Friday, January 20 th, 2017 Time: 7:00 PM Place: Myers Park Baptist Church Address: 1900 Queens Road Total Solar Eclipse Adventures:

More information

Syzygy. The New. Everyone is Welcomed At the Dark Sky Festival Sequoia National Park. This Month s Events

Syzygy. The New. Everyone is Welcomed At the Dark Sky Festival Sequoia National Park. This Month s Events The New Syzygy The Newsletter of the Kern Astronomical Society No. 509 July 2017 KAS Meeting First Friday of Every Month YOU CAN ORDER AHEAD OF TIME AT ROUND TABLE PIZZA (661) 397-1111 http://www.roundtablepizza.com/rtp/store.asp?st

More information

Focal Point. Please Renew Your MAS Membership! Astronomy Calendars. Next Public Night on September 6. August, 2013

Focal Point. Please Renew Your MAS Membership! Astronomy Calendars. Next Public Night on September 6. August, 2013 Focal Point August, 2013 Please Renew Your MAS Membership! Inside this issue: Membership Renewal 1 Calendars 1 Public Night 1 Picnic 2 Yerkes 3 Observatory Tour 4 In the News 5 Officers/Staff 6 Keyholders

More information

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY TODAY

AMATEUR ASTRONOMY TODAY RADIO PETER BRUCE. G4WPB AMATEUR ASTRONOMY TODAY EQUIPMENT - & WHAT YOU CAN SEE & IMAGE. LIGHT I JUST HAVE TO HAVE A DIG AT CROYDON WHAT A WASTE OF ENERGY. AND IT S LEGAL The next time you hear Energy

More information

English. VIII Международная астрономическая олимпиада VIII International Astronomy Olympiad VIII:e Internationella Astronomiolympiaden

English. VIII Международная астрономическая олимпиада VIII International Astronomy Olympiad VIII:e Internationella Astronomiolympiaden Theoretical round. Problems to solve Group B 1. Today is the 46th anniversary of the start of the "cosmic era". History changed on October 4, 1957, when the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik

More information

The Ever-Changing Sky. By Megan McGibney

The Ever-Changing Sky. By Megan McGibney The Ever-Changing Sky The Ever-Changing Sky By Megan McGibney Look up at the sky. You will see the sun. It is bright and shiny, warming everything in the world. Look up at the sky again at night. You may

More information

Systems of Equations Unit Five ONE NONE INFINITE

Systems of Equations Unit Five ONE NONE INFINITE Systems of Equations Unit Five ONE NONE INFINITE Standards: 8.EE.8 Analyze and solve pairs of simultaneous linear equations. a. Understand that solutions to a system of two linear equations in two variables

More information

World Space Week. Age 5-11 A FREE RESOURCE PACK FROM EDUCATIONCITY. Topical Teaching Resources. Suitability

World Space Week. Age 5-11 A FREE RESOURCE PACK FROM EDUCATIONCITY. Topical Teaching Resources. Suitability A FREE RESOURCE PACK FROM EDUCATIONCITY World Space Week Age 5-11 Topical Teaching Resources Suitability Free school resources by EducationCity. This may be reproduced for class use. World Space Week Topical

More information

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System Practice Test English Language Arts Reading Comprehension GRADE 5

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System Practice Test English Language Arts Reading Comprehension GRADE 5 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System Practice Test English Language Arts Reading Comprehension GRADE 5 Student Name School Name District Name This is a practice test. Your responses to practice

More information

>> By Marc Cheves, LS. A Brief History of Elgin, Knowles & Senne, Inc. and their Ephemerides

>> By Marc Cheves, LS. A Brief History of Elgin, Knowles & Senne, Inc. and their Ephemerides A Brief History of Elgin, Knowles & Senne, Inc. and their Ephemerides ntil the early 1980s practically all surveyors used the Altitude Method to determine the astronomic direction of a line, based on a

More information

Sometimes Accountants Fail to Budget

Sometimes Accountants Fail to Budget ISSN 1940-204X Sometimes Accountants Fail to Budget Gail Hoover King Purdue University Calumet Jane Saly University of St. Thomas Budgeting is important in all organizations, but it is especially in nonprofit

More information

2. The distance between the Sun and the next closest star, Proxima Centuari, is MOST accurately measured in

2. The distance between the Sun and the next closest star, Proxima Centuari, is MOST accurately measured in Name: Date: 1. Some scientists study the revolution of the Moon very closely and have recently suggested that the Moon is gradually moving away from Earth. Which statement below would be a prediction of

More information

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory s IYL2015 QLT Kit. Settings Video. Beach

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory s IYL2015 QLT Kit. Settings Video. Beach Beach Presenter 1: My family has a beach house on this beach during the summer. There s a street on one side of the house, and the beach is right behind it! There are lights on the street, but they don

More information

The Earth & its good friend, the Moon. SNC1D7 - Space

The Earth & its good friend, the Moon. SNC1D7 - Space The Earth & its good friend, the Moon SNC1D7 - Space Key Questions! What causes... day and night? the seasons? the tides? What are eclipses? Let s eat some space oreos! How do we know the Earth is round?

More information

STRONOMY RADE ASSESSMENT PACKET This section teaches the big ideas behind Newton and Einstein s ground breaking work. Students will discover how to design and build reflector and refractor telescopes,

More information

Howdy and Welcome to the Texas Astronomical Society!

Howdy and Welcome to the Texas Astronomical Society! Howdy and Welcome to the Texas Astronomical Society! The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas (TAS) is a group of individuals sharing and promoting their common interest in astronomy. People with all levels

More information

The Pulsation Properties of the Double-Mode RR Lyrae Variable V79 in Messier 3

The Pulsation Properties of the Double-Mode RR Lyrae Variable V79 in Messier 3 336 The Pulsation Properties of the Double-Mode RR Lyrae Variable V79 in Messier 3 Christine M. Clement Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H8, Canada Mike

More information

Discover The Life Of An Inventor. Albert Einstein

Discover The Life Of An Inventor. Albert Einstein Discover The Life Of An Inventor Albert Einstein ALBERT EINSTEIN DISCOVER THE LIFE OF AN INVENTOR Don McLeese Rourke Publishing LLC Vero Beach, Florida 32964 2006 Rourke Publishing LLC All rights reserved.

More information

The Langitselatan blog: A window for popularising astronomy in Indonesia

The Langitselatan blog: A window for popularising astronomy in Indonesia The blog: A window for popularising astronomy in Indonesia The blog: A window for popularising astronomy in Indonesia Avivah Yamani, Aldino A. Baskoro, Dewi Pramesti Rigel Kentaurus,.com (avivah@langitselatan.com)

More information

Photoelectric Photometry of e Aurigae During the Eclipse Season

Photoelectric Photometry of e Aurigae During the Eclipse Season Melillo, JAAVSO Volume 40, 2012 695 Photoelectric Photometry of e Aurigae During the 2009 2011 Eclipse Season Frank J. Melillo Holtsville Observatory, 14 Glen-Hollow Dr, E-16, Holtsville, NY 11742; FrankJ12@aol.com

More information

Introducing Inspector Tippington

Introducing Inspector Tippington Introducing Inspector Tippington Inspector Tippington is a world-famous detective who is retired from Scotland Yard. He is also an expert in world history. He has spent his life traveling around the world

More information

A Ramble Through the Night Sky

A Ramble Through the Night Sky 1 2 Contents of Talk What is up there? Moon, stars, planets, comets, aurora, nebulae, galaxies How can I find my way around? Magazines, books, planisphere, software What if I want to see more? Binoculars,

More information

September 2016 E-Newsletter of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society

September 2016 E-Newsletter of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society September 2016 E-Newsletter of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society 501(c)(3) Scientific and Charitable Organization Established in 1974 Hello members and friends, Meeting place: Proctor Terrace Elementary

More information

Explorers 4 Teacher s notes for the Comprehension Test: The Snow Queen

Explorers 4 Teacher s notes for the Comprehension Test: The Snow Queen Explorers 4 Teacher s notes for the Comprehension Test: The Snow Queen Do this test after you have read the whole book with the class. Ask the children to fill in their name and the date at the top of

More information